By Emmanuel Awari – Jalingo
Governor Agbu Kefas of Taraba State has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of citizens, empowering women, protecting children and promoting social inclusion.
The governor, represented by the Head of Service, Dr Hamidu Kara, stated this at the 26th Regular National Council on Women Affairs and Child Development held in Jalingo, Taraba State.
Kefas said his administration would continue to invest in education, healthcare, skills development, women empowerment, child protection and social inclusion as key pillars of its human capital development agenda.
“As a government, we remain committed to investing in education, healthcare, skills development, women empowerment, child protection, and social inclusion as key pillars of our human capital development agenda.
“We recognise that government cannot do this alone. Sustainable progress requires collaboration among the Federal Government, State Governments, civil society, development partners, communities, and the private sector.”
He encouraged participants to use the council as a platform to exchange ideas, share experiences and develop practical and sustainable recommendations that could be implemented across the states.
The governor urged delegates to ensure that their deliberations went beyond resolutions and translated into tangible improvements in the lives of women, children, families and vulnerable persons.
He appreciated the Minister and the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development for choosing Taraba as the host state for the 26th council, while welcoming the delegates to the state.
“We are particularly honoured to host this important national gathering at a time when strengthening families, protecting our children, and empowering women are critical to the development of our nation,” he said.
Kefas described the theme of the council, “Strengthening Families and Advancing the Care Economy for Inclusive Development, Operationalising Nigeria’s Renewed Social Protection Architecture,” as timely and relevant.
He noted that a strong nation begins with strong families and stressed the need to create systems that support women, children and vulnerable members of society.
He further emphasised that Nigeria’s future depends largely on what is done today to strengthen families and invest in women and children.
“When women are empowered, families become stronger; when children are protected and educated, communities become more resilient; and when vulnerable persons are supported, development becomes more inclusive.”
The governor commended the Commissioner for Women Affairs and Child Development and her team for their efforts, assuring that Taraba State would continue to support initiatives and partnerships that promote dignity, opportunity and social protection.
He also pledged the state’s readiness to work with the Federal Government and other stakeholders to ensure that the outcomes of the council contribute meaningfully to national development.
In her remarks, the Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Hajiya Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim, described the National Council as the highest policy advisory platform for women, children and families, stressing that its resolutions must be treated as binding commitments rather than an annual photo opportunity.
She said the 26th National Council on Women Affairs, Child Advancement and Social Development must produce results that would be visible in communities.
“This Council is not a ceremony. It is not an annual gathering at which we exchange courtesies, take photographs and disperse. What we resolve here must be found next year in State budgets, in State work plans and in the lives of the people we serve,” she said.
The minister appreciated Governor Kefas and the people of Taraba State for hosting the council. She also commended Governor Monday Okpebholo and the Edo State Government for hosting the 25th council in Benin City in November 2025.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim said President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda had declared 2026 the Year of Families and Social Development, placing the family at the centre of national transformation.
She described the care economy as national infrastructure, noting that unpaid care work, which is largely carried out by women, sustains households but keeps many women out of the formal workforce.
The minister also expressed concern over poor data management and weak coordination among government agencies, saying several agencies sometimes implement similar interventions in one local government area while other communities receive little or no support.
She proposed the establishment of a quarterly Federal-State-Partner coordination platform to improve collaboration and ensure more effective implementation of social development programmes.
Sulaiman-Ibrahim also criticised the quality of memoranda submitted to the council, revealing that 126 memoranda were presented this year but several were stepped down because they lacked proper costing and implementation plans.
“A memorandum to this Council is not a wish. It should carry a clear problem statement, evidence, a costed implementation plan, a named implementing institution, a timeline and a means of verification,” she said.
Upon her arrival in Taraba, the minister visited Zing to inspect project sites and meet beneficiaries of the Nigeria for Women Scale Up Project.
She expressed satisfaction with the impact of the projects and commended the women for their determination to build sustainable livelihoods. She also provided cash assistance and gifts to beneficiaries to encourage them to expand their businesses and improve their families’ wellbeing.
The keynote speaker, Prof. Nana Tanko of the African Policy Research Institute (APRI), called for greater emphasis on reciprocity and social cohesion.
She said the social rights of citizens should be clearly established as legal entitlements, with transparency in their implementation and adequate public awareness of available services and benefits.
The APC Deputy National Women Leader, Hajiya Zainab Ibrahim, popularly known as Anty Zee, said the 10 Million Voices Project was initiated by the Minister of Women Affairs.
She noted that Nigerian women were yet to occupy some of the country’s highest political offices, including the positions of President, Vice President, Senate President and governor.
According to her, the situation was partly caused by a lack of unity among women. She commended the minister for initiating what she described as a renewed women’s movement in Nigeria.
“Out of 100, women constitute 50 per cent and above. Yet out of 109 National Assembly members, only four Senators are women,” Anty Zee said.
The Speaker of the Taraba State Children’s Parliament, Rt. Hon. Queen Abashi, expressed gratitude for the recognition given to children and called for their voices to be considered beyond Children’s Day.
She urged policymakers to involve children whenever policies and programmes affecting them were being developed and implemented.
She also appreciated the administration of President Bola Tinubu for its efforts to protect children from violence, abuse, exploitation, neglect and harmful practices.
The council, organised by the Federal Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development, brought together representatives from the 36 states and the Federal Capital Territory, development partners, traditional rulers and other stakeholders.